PTA-BOD Consultative Meeting: Communication In The Face of COVID-19 Challenges

Written by: Samantha Facun

Associate Editor

Date: March 19, 2021

Venue: Online, Zoom

Held last March 19, 2021 via Zoom was the PISQ-PTA Consultative General Assembly Meeting. The assembly was conducted as a collaboration and engagement between PISQ’s school management and PISQian parents. The said meeting posed as a chance for parents to raise their inquiries and concerns— as well as an opportunity for the school to provide solutions and answers that address such. Moreover, it also became a great avenue for the school management to convey the new challenges and health protocols that had been implemented, in light of the COVID-19 restrictions. 

In attendance were the PTA officers, led by Mr. Pio Tortola, PTA President. As well as Ms. Karren Baac, PTA-BOD Teacher, along with the respective members of the Board of Directors, supportive parents, and our ever-present principal, Mr. Jason A. Iyas. 

To start the meeting, Ms. Donna Elumba, PTA P.R.O, led the opening prayer. Shortly after, Mr. Jason Iyas, delivered the PISQ mission and vision. The introduction and opening remarks were given by Mr. Raymond Yasser Chio, the PTA Auditor. 

In his speech, he also emphasized the importance of the meeting; speaking on behalf of the PTA-BOD, “We hope that this platform [conference] will enable us to open the communication, and accept constructive criticism between parties”. Mr. Chio also stated that in order to garner much more promising and encouraging results, meetings of this nature shall be conducted every other Friday and shall be divided, to cater to different departments (e.g Intermediate, Preparatory, and High School departments). “We all know that big kids and small kids have different needs, and the parents also have different questions, [in line with this], we [hopefully] will be able to answer all of these questions.” 

Following the opening remarks was Mr. Pio Tortola’s message where he also stated the vitality of conducting the said meeting, “The PTA-BOD had come up with this initiative as we felt there is a growing need of the parents to speak in a collective voice to the PISQ management; regarding what they feel and think about the present situation in school amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Moreover, he also gave light on the school’s wishes to communicate to the parents regarding the matter in question, saying, “The school on the other hand also wished to convey its sentiments regarding the challenges it is currently facing in implementing the school’s health and safety protocols. Not only this, but also the challenges of implementing the modality of learning to the students [as] mandated by the ministry”. This is of course in the hopes that active participation will be fostered within the school community— especially among parents and teachers.

Indeed, it goes without saying that communication and involvement between our esteemed alma mater and parents is what PISQ needs at the time of such changes. “The new normal” will not be an easy hurdle to overcome, however, as what the PTA-BOD strongly believes in— active and good communication will always be the key towards delivering the best possible education for the young minds of PISQ, while also taking into account everyone’s safety and security.